Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Kott Lumber Derailment

June 21, 1984: The switch to the Kott Lumber spur at Mi 8.1 of CN's Smiths Falls Sub on Moodie Drive in Nepean was left open, with eastbound VIA train No 46's locomotive and four cars colliding with two bulkhead flatcars and one boxcar at 2245 hours on the Kott property. The VIA cars remained upright but derailed, and sixty metres of track was destroyed.

If the cars had not been on the spur, it's likely that the train could have ended up in the Jock River. Damage to the train was estimated at $2.25 million. VIA train No 43 was bustituted, with VIA trains rerouted over CP via Carleton Place until June 24. LRC locomotive 6910 was sent to CN's Moncton shops for repairs in September, 1984. The locomotive was released from body repairs at Moncton in June, 1985. The unit was deadheaded to Montreal's Pointe Ste Charles shops deadhead on June 10 on VIA train No 15 for mechanical repairs, returned to service in October, 1985.

A 19 year-old man was jailed for two years less a day, with a further three years' probation. The man was seeking revenge on the lumber company for previously firing him. The derailment may have led to new rules for operating high-speed trains operating in non-signalled territory, and equipping mainline switches with high-security safety padlocks, not just switchlocks.

A quick photo (top) of the Kott Lumber spur, taken from our Renaissance car returning to Kingston in September, 2011. At speed! Check out blog partner Michael Hammond's post on the train that now serves Kott, and his first encounter which shows the spur sans foliage.

Running extra...

Michael's blog, The Beachburg Sub, explores all angles (and remnants) of Ottawa-area railroading, and beyond! Be sure to stop by and check out Michael's latest, as well as some looks forward to 2018 and glances over the shoulder at 2017 from my other blog partners.

We're keeping the Christmas lights on, but having just turned the corner from Christmas, we're now heading for the New Year! Of course that leads me to thoughts of my fall and winter project, Trains and Grains. Hoping to get some work done during a few days off. It's not really work, it's more like fun. Fun work?

Reading a non-train book Christmas Eve (well, there is a Burlington Route shovel-nosed Zephyr under the tree) to the kids under the Snowman Tree. Whenever I ask the kids whether they've read the latest here on Trackside Treasure, they register a look of diffident disinterest. We all know that genetic exposure is much more powerful than environmental exposure!

ETU (Excellent Train URL's)

Rather Sketchy Profile

Eric Gagnon was born in Montreal, Quebec and has lived in Kingston, Ontario most of his life. Much time was spent trackside when not in school, college or practising as a medical laboratory technologist. Married with two children, Eric is also an HO-scale modeller, musician, avid reader and blogger, having launched his Canadian railfan blog Trackside Treasure in 2008. Eric's first book Trackside with VIA:The First 35 Years, published in 2011, was followed by two more in 2012: Trackside with VIA:Cross-Canada Compendium and Consist Companion. In 2017, Eric published his fourth book, Trackside with VIA - Research & Recollections. Eric's books can be found in museum gift shops, hobby shops and in the hands of VIA Rail enthusiasts across Canada, the United States and worldwide.

VIA 1970's-1980's Recordings on youtube by E-series-8-4-4

A Word about Attribution

Text is written by me unless shown quoted or otherwise attributed. Photos are taken by me unless attributed, linked to, or used with permission by the photographer. Trackside Treasure is ethically-sourced.

Waiting for VIA No 2

Winnipeg, 1984

Production! Production!

Applying a Tank Track, CPR Angus Shops

The Latest from Randy O'Brien. Thanks, Randy!

Keep Calm - from Randy O'Brien

My Second VIA Rail book

CLC ad undated

Doug Wright's immortal FPA4 going like stink!

I've Got a Fee-vah!

Boarding No 2 in June, 1982

Vestibule View

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Header Photos

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